I recently installed my 413 in the vette last week. Since I put it in, I have had a very hard cranking problem. Please let me explain. motor is a 11.5 : 1 400 bored .060 over. stock starter, looks like larger battery cables. Battery connections are of the clamp on style (junk) and battery is a exide 500cca. When I attempt to start the car it sounds like the car is really out of time. turns about 1 rev, and stops, turns another, stops for about 1/2 second, then turns good and usually starts. but by then the battery cable ends and the starter are smoking. I checked the timing and set it to the best for driving, and tried it again. same thing. checked battery cables and found that only half the cable is clamped into the end (ends to small for cable). I ordered a set of solder on ends that will be here in the morning. using the stock 350 starter, ordered a stock 400 starter will be here in the morning. my engine has about 2 hours run time and about 10 miles on it right now (been snowing no chance to drive). am I missing anything? should this help, or do I need a larger battery for this motor? I was thinking a 750cca or 850 cca if I can fit it in the compartment. engine sounds really good when running, and torque to spin engine assembly with plugs out was within specs. Any other ideas? thanks

 

A stock 400 starter won't have much more cranking power than a 350 starter except that it'll be new. If the new starter still has trouble with the high compression motor, I suggest looking into a GM mini starter. They are geared for more torque, use less power, and they are smaller so they are less likely to get killed by heat.

 

550CCA isn't very big. I'd go with a Optima yellow top. If you still have the battery mounted behind the seat, the cable runs are very long. You should use 0 gauge cable, and make sure all grounds are clean.

 

I've got 11:1 in my 406 with a GM starter and a 875 WalMart battery with no problems.Your battery is too small for anything over 9:1 and your starter sounds like you have too much resistance in the circuit.Could be just an old starter.
Look in JEGS or SUMMIT catalogs,there are many choices for mini starters in all price ranges and even CHROME!!!!
I used one on a12:1 468 BBC with good results.I think mine was a TILTON.

 

I agree that 550CCA isn't the most powerful battery and a larger CCA rated battery could be helpful.

At the same time I'd double check your timing. If initial timing is too high it can make starting difficult.
If the timing is correctly set for total timing at around 36º (with vacuum advance unplugged) and your initial timing is too high causing you starting issues that you will need to recurve your distributor to allow for a larger mechanical advance so you can keep total timing around 36º and at the same time lower the initial timing.

 

Resistance causes heat & drops the voltage output. Low voltage to the starter causes it to get hot. "0" gauge cable & bolt-on battery ends should fix your problem.

 

There are two starters available for your engine. The only difference is one is a HD starter and the other is a LD starter. To be able to distinguish the difference is easy, merely look at the switch. If there is an extension of about 3/4 of a inch between the switch and the starters field contact then it`s a HD. Without the extension it`s a LD {light duty}. The HD unit will serve you better. I would also suggest the highest cranking amp battery that will fit the case is a better choice.

You dont need a high dollar aftermarket trick starter if you choose the OEM replacement parts correctly.

 

thanks all. I started with the easy stuff first yesterday. I had some HD clamp on ends from a semi, that I installed to get the car home and into the garage. could really tell a difference there. got all my parts in around 3PM yesterday, so I am going to install as soon as the fireplace warms the garage up this morning. BTW I have a really good parts man, as I told him what I was doing, and he already knew of the HD starter....Glad he did or I would have got the Light Duty. I think this is going to turn out to be a bigger project than I planned... While I was looking over the engine last night, I noticed oil leaking between the heads and the intake.....so I get to do that now. A buddy stopped by and dropped off a new set of Hooker Headers and a Holley Dual feed carb, that he had for another project....So I guess the Wallet Thinning Project has begun...Now if I could just keep all the receipts hidden from the wife for the next 2 years....

 

Gorrilla, Before you spend any money! Drop the starter and clean up the mounting area (block & starter contact points) with a scotch bright or sand paper. It sounds like you have a bad ground between your starter and block. Been their P.S. if you have shims clean them up too.

 

"More power Scotty" I agree with the other posters about the size of the battery. IMO it sounds like you need a battery with more CCA. 11 to 1 is alot of compression for a little battery to kick over.

 

I have a pretty big Sears battery charger, it's one of those models mounted on two wheels, don't think it cost that much $150 (???). If I had this problem, I'd put the charger in parallel across the battery and if I still had problems, I'd know it wasn't lack of electrical power.

The charger has been a great tool and served a lot of use helping check out electrical problems. It has a circuit breaker, and I use in on the low and medium settings for checking out electrical problems. If I have a short the circuit breaker will turn off power before the short circuit does damage (it has so far!). Using a battery to check out electrical problems is dangerous. I can put out hundreds of amperes and there's no circuit breaker. You can literally vaporize stuff with battery power.

 

well finally got it, I think. I took everyones advice, so I dont really know what fixed it, but now I know I wont have any problems. I installed new solder on cable ends, 0 gauge wires, 750cca gel cell battery, new HD 400 starter, and cleaned every darn ground and power connection I have. got it all back together and now the engine starts before the starter is done moving.....thanks all for the help, now I will post in another thread about my intake choices....more money, more money, more money!!!

 

Glad it's working well. And, thanks for helping boost the U.S. economy {just like the rest of us}.